Some interesting evidence from the Indian Partition:
We use the arbitrary assignment of mobilised troops to the frontline combat in World War 2 to identify the e ffect of combat experience. …we find that districts where majority ethnic groups received increased combat experience show both greater co-ethnic immigration and the ethnic cleansing of minorities. However, where minority groups gained combat experience, there were greater majority inflows but less minority ethnic cleansing.
We interpret these asymmetric results as reflecting two phenomena. First, ethnic cleansing and co-ethnic immigration act as substitute strategies for agents seeking to alter local ethnic composition to gain political control. Second, combat experience enhances private organizational skill that facilitates collective action.
A new paper from Saumitra Jha and Steve Wilkinson.
